evening dress

Halston, Designer (American, 1932-1990)

Halston’s uncluttered construction couples here with a subtle, almost abstract print to create a classic look. Although he used few prints and patterns in his collections, Halston was inspired by impressionist floral paintings and designed many patterns himself.

The sarong dress, the most famous edition of Halston’s “tube” dresses, was introduced in the mid-1970s. Created from a slim tube of fabric cut on the bias in a spiral shape, the dress contains no snaps or buttons, closing at the bust with only two self-tie fabric ends.

Elizabeth Weymouth (b. 1943), New York; through (Stan Weaver, New York); given to the Indianapolis Museum of Art (1985).